2015 VISIONARY AWARD

A Lifetime of Helping Others ACTOR AND VISIONARY AWARD RECIPIENT MAKES HIS MARK IN MANY WAYS, INCLUDING ON VETERANS’ CAUSES BY ALEX BEN BLOCK

EXT MAY, Joe Mantegna, the Tony his uncle,” said retired Col. Dave Fabian, chief of Award-winning actor and star of staf for the Army Historical Foundation, where the CBS show “,” Mantegna serves as spokesman for a planned will co-host the National Memorial $200 million Army museum envisioned for a NDay Concert. It will mark the 15th consecutive 2019 opening. “He introduced him to me and year that he will help present a star-studded his uncle was a character in his own right. But tribute to those who served in the military. the point is Joe had great respect for him and However, for a second year he will not be his service. Joe then simply transferred that accompanied by a favorite uncle, Willie Novelli. to other veterans regardless of where they did Te World War II veteran had accompanied their service.” Mantegna to every show since the early 2000s. That begins to explain how an Italian- Uncle Willie passed away in January 2014 at American from the hard streets of , the age of 91. who never served in the military, has become a “He was like a second father to me,” said leading spokesman for veterans, military causes Mantegna, “because my dad was in ill health and philanthropies. when I was growing up and passed away in 1971 Mantegna is being honored for that work [when he was 24]. Uncle Willie kind of flled and other with the 2015 Visionary Award from that slot for me. I would take him everywhere, the Press Club. It will be presented including the Memorial Day concert.” at tonight’s National Arts & Entertainment “Joe really had a warm and healthy respect for Journalism Awards.

Above: and Joe Mantegna at the Memorial Day concert in 2010. Mantegna found his passion for military causes after hosting the Left: Mantegna takes pride in supporting the men and women 2002 Memorial Day Concert, an emotional telecast haunted by in uniform. the memories of the 9-11 attacks the year before.

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Uncle Willie and Joe in front of a Chicago neighborhood grocery.

“He was like a second father to me, because my dad was in and from that moment on it became a hot button for me.” ill health when I was growing up…” ‘Just a Mouthpiece’ Mantegna found his passion for military Joseph Anthony Mantegna, Jr. was born in causes afer hosting the 2002 Memorial Day Chicago in 1947 to a proudly Italian-American Concert, an emotional telecast haunted by the family. His mother, who is now 100 years old, memories of the 9-11 attacks the year before. was a shipping clerk, and his father worked as “Doing that concert that year,” recalled an insurance salesman. We love you Joe! Mantegna, “I can only describe it as one of two He has made more than 200 flm and TV times in my life when I walked on a stage and appearances, and is also a producer, writer, and felt like a bolt of lightning went through my director. His memorable movies include parts chest.” in Te Godfather, Part III, and Te frst time was when at 16 he tried out for Bugsy. He has voiced the part of on a school play. He didn’t get the part, but knew “Te Simpsons” for the past 15 years. Love, immediately that he wanted to be an actor. His other TV work includes Emmy Te memories of the Memorial Day concert nominations for three miniseries: “The Last also live with him. Mantegna went onstage to Don” (1997), “The Starter Wife” (2007) and read the words of three New York fremen who “Te Rat Pack” (1999), playing . had lost their sons in the terrorist attacks. Mantegna has been able to incorporate his Erica and your CM family “I came away with this feeling of, ‘Oh my god, passions into his work. His “Criminal Minds” Memorial Day is not only an important holiday, character is a former Marine. In to me it became the most important holiday we 2014, Mantegna directed as well as starred in xo celebrate in this country.’ What resonated in my two episodes built around Rossi’s commanding mind was without Memorial Day, we have no officer in Vietnam. The late reason to have any other holidays because we starred as the former ofcer, now a homeless won’t have a . veteran who is able to transition on the show “I realized I was one of those people that with help from the New Directions shelter in took that for granted,” added Mantegna. West Los Angeles. “So this all kind of hit me like a ton of bricks, Shortly afer Taylor died, a third episode had

LA 20 PC 2015 VISIONARY AWARD Now You Can Help the helped raise millions for charities including the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center and Breast L.A. Press Club Cancer Awareness. Journalists aren’t just passive observers. We’re active “If my position as a celebrity can help some- storytellers who shape the way our communities see the body by me just showing up,” said Mantegna, world. The Los Angeles Press Club is where you can use “why wouldn’t I do it?” those passions and talents to support our profession. It’s He is also a strong supporter of autism also where you can meet colleagues from diverse outlets, charities. His daughter Mia was diagnosed as platforms and beats. The more we participate, the more a preschooler and today as an adult still lives we all get out of it. Here’s how you can stay involved. with Mantegna and his wife of 40 years, Arlene. “Tat touches me on a whole other level,” JOIN: If you’re not already a member, signing up is simple said Mantegna, “because I can relate one on one at lapressclub.org. Most of us are full-time journalists, to what the families that have this go through.” but there are other membership categories, too. Mantegna also is a partner in a production GIVE: company. One of his projects is the documen- support. A journalism career can be glamorous, but it tary Choc’late Soldiers, about African American soldiers sent to fght alongside the British in World War II. It is due for release in 2016. Mantegna recognizes that his celebrity Mantegna holds a card showing Rossi fying to L.A. for his character’s funeral, allows him to shine a light on worthy causes, Fat Tony, the character he which included full military honors. It featured but he doesn’t accept glory for the role. ENTER: voices, with a wounded soldier and fan of “.” two real-life three-star generals. “I’m just a mouthpiece, a symbol of the Mantegna is the honorary chairman for the work,” insisted Mantegna. “It’s like I’m the Salute to Hospitalized Veterans and ofen visits general of the Army but it’s all the grunts VA Hospitals. He received the USO of Met- paying the price who do the work. I’m just the ropolitan Washington’s Merit Award and has face guy who gets the accolades.” by a colleague, encourage him or her to enter. The and the NAEJs cover a yearly period starting July 1.

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SUGGEST: lapressclub.org). Also, next time you’re frustrated you’re inspired by something happening in media, let The new play about the first African-American Heavyweight Champion of the world, his trials and travails and what America was then and is now. www.ghostinthehouse.org Directed by Frank Megna

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